CSA Information

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is more than just you, the customer, receiving a basket of vegetables every week as they are available. CSA directly connects the consumer to the farmer and more importantly, the land to strengthen the local food system. As our food system becomes more global it is becoming increasingly difficult to be confident in the origin and the growing practices of your food. With a CSA you can rest assured that your produce comes from the farmer that you can meet and also the land that you are more than welcome to visit. We highly encourage you to visit the farm as often as you want and we hope that you will bring your family and friends. Through the CSA, the farm gets the benefit of an uncommon financing option and an expanded market while you get an unique connection to your food, the farmer that produced it, and land it was grown on. This practice of consumer support for locally sustainable food helps provide benefit to you and us, the farm family through many different aspects.

The major benefit for the farm is the ability to pay for investments of seed, equipment, and many other needs of the farm early in the year. This helps lower interest costs against the farm since you are helping provide upfront financing. By paying at the beginning of the season, you share in the risk of production as well as relieving me of much of the time needed for marketing. By allowing for less time in marketing, it allows me to concentrate on good land stewardship and growing high quality food. Another benefit is the ability to schedule crop plantings since I know the demand for that product during a given timeframe. This allows for a guaranteed market for the produce which means less wasted produce.

This practice sounds great, but you are asking, what do I get in exchange for my money? You receive high quality produce throughout the growing season from May to October. We have two different forms of the CSA, so you can choose the type that best suits your personal situation. You have the ability to connect to and visit the farm and farmer that grows the produce you are receiving each week. For those that are extremely ambitious and like to get the “dirt under your fingernails”, you are able to come to the farm and work to get the ultimate connection to the land.

The one option for CSA membership is purchase of a full share of a harvest basket. This basket is designed to feed a family of four with a variety of vegetables from mid-May through October for a total of 24 weeks. You will receive between 6-10 different vegetables each week as they are in season. The other benefit of this membership is that you will be the first to try new varieties and crops as we seek to broaden our offerings in the market.

The cost of the full share CSA will be $505. If you were to purchase the same produce at the market you would spend approximately $590; this does not include the “extras” that you receive in new products. We will also offer a half-share of the same baskets for those who do not need as much produce for the season. The half-share is exactly as it states, it will be half the amount of produce for the 24 weeks. The half-share will cost $275.

For 2012 we have a split payment available for the harvest baskets. The first payment is due when you decide to make the purchase. You can make the second payment at your convenience as long as it is received by March 15th. For baskets purchased during March, full payment will be due at the time of purchase. Baskets purchased during the month of March are subject to our approval. We may be looking to limit the membership and may not accept any baskets after February 28th. Pickup locations will be at the West Lafayette Farmer’s Market on Wednesday, Lafayette Farmer’s Market on Saturday morning, and the farm at a pre-appointed time each week. Other locations may be utilized if there is demand for another centralized location. Pickup location will need to be chosen at the time of payment. If you are able to let us know that you are unable to take your basket at least tthree days in advance we will give you $21(full share) and $11(half share) in market credit to spend at your leisure at the Farmers Market you attend.

The second option for the CSA is purchasing market credit with your early payment. For all payments made by March 15th towards your membership will gain you 10 percent in market credit. Rather than us selecting your weekly package of produce, your credit will be tracked at the market as you continue to make purchases. The advantage of this system is that you are able to purchase your produce at your convenience. You can miss a week without having a basket of vegetables that you will not be able to use. All market credits will have to be used in the 2011 market season. Below is a table to show you the options that are available for the market credit CSA.

Spend - Receive

$100 - $110

$150 - $165

$200 - $220

$250 - $275

$300 - $330

$350 - $385

We thank you for your consideration and hope that you will take this unique opportunity to connect with your food and the farm family that produced it. We would also like for you to take the time to view some of our other packages and products that we have available. And of course, please visit us at the farm. That’s what we are trying to share with you---a unique opportunity to visit the land and connect with the family that grows what you consume.